When you are unable to properly see, hear, or move, the world can become a very terrifying place. My near-syncope experience made me temporarily lose my ability to communicate. This experience introduced me to audiology, as an integral part of the profession is helping patients with hearing loss to be able to communicate and advocate for themselves.

During school, my misdiagnosis experience that eventually led to a hospitalization taught me what kind of provider I wanted to be—empathetic and patient-focused. Audiology is truly more than just hearing aids. We help those with debilitating tinnitus or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo feel validated and counsel newly implanted cochlear implant recipients, among many other things.

Thank you A.T. Still University for helping me on my AuD journey—I plan to provide the best patient care during my fourth-year clinical rotation at Cleveland Clinic, and I am excited about the opportunity to learn from the audiologists at this outstanding hospital.